16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
And what agreement [accord, consensual affiliation] has the temple of God with idols?
An “agreement” joins people together in a common cause. There is no accord between the truth and error. An “idol” is anything a person, either formally or informally, worships. People can worship money, their mate, or children.
Temple implies holiness. The Christian carries himself as a sacred vessel.
For you are the temple of the living God.
Christians are God’s temple, both individually and collectively (1 Co 3:16; 6:19). There can be no compromise with idolatry.
As God has said:
The following is a citation from Leviticus 26:12. The quotations that follow are all from contexts of worship. Here the issue is pagan worship, idol worship.
“I will dwell in them And walk among them.
God says that His people are a temple (Eph 2:21-22); thus, they are to be holy. The idea of “holy” is set apart; believers are set apart unto God.
“Dwell” has to do with the divine presence. God takes up residence continually with the believer. “Walk” is how God functions with divine operation in the lives of Christians.
I will be their God,
This phrase shows that God will actively engage with believers who live a holy life.
And they shall be My people.”
This sentence is an allusion to Exodus 6:7; Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 11:20.
PRINCIPLE:
The Christian’s body (the temple of God) has no compatibility with idol worship of any kind.
APPLICATION:
Christians cannot worship with non-Christians because their object of worship is radically different, making them incompatible.
The heart of every believer is a sanctuary, which forms a temple; thus, the imperative to be true to God by the promise of His indwelling.
